Acid bath washer apparatus

ABSTRACT

Acid from a storage tank is delivered into a washer tank containing work to be treated. After treatment, the acid is returned to the storage tank and the washer tank is rinsed with water from an outside supply. Distilled water from a distilled water supply tank is then admitted into the washer tank to treat the work therein, and after the distilled water is discharged, a hot air generator delivers hot air into the washer tank to dry the work.

I United 9 States Patent 11 1 1111 3W6m Weisner Jan. 22, 11974 [54] ACID BATH WASHER APPARATUS 2,961,356 11/1960 Breese et al. 134/28 3,562,016 2/1971 Laney 134/28 X [76] Invent weisne" 1,526,179 2 1925 Parr et a]. 134 94 ux Mary Esther 32569 3,719,191 3/1973 Zimmerly 134/103 x [22] Filed: Aug. 28, 1972 1 pp No 283 958 Primary ExaminerRobert L. Bleutge Related US. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT [63] fgyg g sggzxi of Acid from a storage tank is delivered into a washer tank containing work to be treated. After treatment, [52 us. (:1 134/99, 134/103 134/104 the acid is returned the Storage tank and washer 51] 1m. 01 liosb 3/08 tank is rinsed with water time SiiPPiY- [58] Field of Search 134/28 56 R 56 D 94 96 tilled water from a distilled water supply tank is then 1311/99 admitted into the washer tank to treat the work therein, and after the distilled water is discharged, a [56] References Cited hot air generator delivers hot air into the washer tank UNITED STATES PATENTS dry the 3,242,934 3/1966 Heinicke et al 134/99 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 2,009,278 7/1935 Smidel 134/28 26 (OUTSIDE lN WATER SUPPLY) 30 29 27 23 15 260 2a 32 7 34 36 31 3s 33 OUT (DRAIN) I 39 1 I b 40 24 DISTILLED WASHER ACID 1 WATER p 41 2 l1 2O 22 PAIENTED JAN 2 21974 ACID BATH WASHER APPARATUS RELATED APPLICATION:

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 96,878 filed Dec. 10, 1970, now abandoned.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in washing apparatus, and in particular the invention concerns itself with an acid bath washing apparatus for washing work such as pieces of laboratory glassware.

In conventional practice it has been customary to wash such glassware manually, which not only was a time-consuming task, but also a dangerous one in that it often caused the hands or clothing of the person doing the washing to be burned by acid.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the invention to eliminate the conventional manual washing procedure and to provide an apparatus whereby work such as laboratory glassware may be quickly and easily washed in an acid bath, without any danger to the attendant of the apparatus. As such, in addition to the acid bath, the apparatus also provides a water rinse, a distilled water treatment, and ultimately drying of the work by hot air.

The apparatus of the invention is simple in construction, very efficient and dependable in operation, and lends itself to economical manufacture.

With the foregoing more important object and features in view and such other objects and features which may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following deecription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate like parts, andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagramatic illustration of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 2-2 in FIG. 1 and showing the washer tank with the associated hot air generator and FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 33 in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the acid bath washer apparatus of the invention is shown diagrammatically in FIG. I and designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The same comprises a washer tank 11 in which the work to be washed is placed, the apparatus being especially intended for washing work such as pieces of laboratory glassware and the like. The tank 1 1 has an openable cover 12 and preferably contains a rotary carrier 13 on which the peieces of work are suitably positioned, the carrier being rotated by a suitable motor 14, as will be apparent from FIG. 3.

For the purpose of drying the work pieces after they have been washed, a hot air generator 15 is provided, the same comprising an air blower or fan 16 which blows air past a heating element 17, the heated air being delivered through a duct 18 into the washer tank 11. A control valve 19 may be provided in the duct.

The apparatus also includes an acid storage tank 20, a distilled water supply tank 21, a venturi-type vacuum pump 22, and an assortment of connecting conduits and valves as hereinafter described. Also, an outside water supply 23 and a drain 24 are provided.

Outside water flows from the supply 23 through a shut-off valve 25 into a conduit 26 having a branch 27 provided with a shut-ofi valve 28. The conduit 26 has a Er Yak P2 gmfi s i xi a, 9 9) 30 which in turn has a 3-way valve connection 31 to the washer tank 11. The washer tank is also equipped with a vent valve 32 and the distilled water supply tank 21 similarly has a vent valve 33.

Beyond the 3-way valve 29, the conduit 26 has an extension 2a equip zd with t voflvay vgvesl t, 35 the latter communicating with the acid storage tank 20. The valve 34 is communicable with a conduit 36 which extends to the venturi portion of the aforementioned vacuum pump 22, the venturi portion of the pump also ey nsa ql uinwa s 37 i -r12 1. w 38 which is located in the aforementioned conduit branch 27 downstream from the shut-off valve 28.

T h 4 -.y 1. l a s lt auaiate thrqv a conduit 39 with the drain 24, while another conduit 40, extending from the valve 38, is provided with a pressure pump 41. On the other side of the pump 41, the conduit 4 0 i s connected through a 3-way valve 42 to a conduit 43 which is a common line connecting the bottom of the vacuum pump 22, the bottom of the distilled water supply tank 21, the bottom of the washer tank 11, and the bottom of the acid storage tank 20. A 3-wa y valve 44 is provided in the conduit 43 at the bottom of the distilled water supply tank 21, a 3-way valve 45 is provided in the conduit 43 at the bottom of the washer tank 11, and a shut-off valve 46 is provided in the conduit 43 between the valve 45 and the acid storage tank 20.

It may be noted at this point that the several aforementioned valves are electrically actuated such as solenoid valves, in a predetermined sequence or concurrently in accordance with a program of operation of the apparatus, the electric control of the several valves being effected by a suitable electric circuit which need not be discussed here.

In operation, the apparatus functions in a number of cycles which, briefly described, are as follows:

1. The vacuum pump 22 is filled with water from the water supply 23;

2. The work pieces to be washed are placed in the washer tank 11 and the washer tank is supplied with the acid from the acid storage tank 20, thus washing the work pieces in the acid bath;

3. Acid is returned from the washer tank 11 to the storage tank 20;

4. Rinse water is admitted into the washer tank to rinse the same and the work pieces therein of acid, the rinse water being subsequently drained from the washer tank;

5. Distilled water is admitted from the supply tank 21 into the washer tank 11 to treat the work pieces therein;

6. The distilled water is emptied from the washer tank; and

7. The washed work pieces are dried by hot air supplied by the generator 15.

In carrying out these successive cycles of operation, the various valves function as follows:

CYCLE J Valve 25 open, valve 29 blocks off conduit 26, valve 28 open, valve 29 opens to vacuum pump 22 and valve 42 opens to pump 22 and pump 41. Vacuum pump 22 fills with water to a predetermined level and then valves 25 and 28 are closed. Valve 38 opens the pump 41 to the venturi of the pump 22.

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With valve 32 closed, valve 34 opens vacuum pump 22 to valve 29. Valve 29 opens valve 34 to valve 31 and the latter opens valve 34 to the washer tank 11. Valve 32 closes and valve 45 opens the tank 11 to valve 46 which opens valve 45 to the acid storage tank 20. Valve 35 opens the tank 20 to the atmosphere. Flow of water created by the pump 41 causes vacuum in the pump 22, drawing acid from the tank 20 into the washer tank 1 1. When the washer tank is filled, valve 46 closes and the pump 41 is shut off. The work pieces to be cleaned in the tank 11 are soaked for a predetermined period of time.

Pump 41 is turned on, valve 34 opens venturi of pump 22 to valve 35, opening valve 34 to the acid tank 20. Valve 46 opens acid tank 20 to the washer tank 11 and valve 31 opens the tank 11 to the atmosphere. Acid is drawn from the tank 11 into the tank 20 and when the tank 11 is empty, the valve 46 closes.

cvpLE 4 Valve 25 opens valve 29, opening valve 25 to valve 31 which opens valve 29 to the washer tank 11. Valve 45 opens tank 11 to valve 44, opening valve 44 to valve 45 and to valve 42. Valve 42 opens valve 44 to pump 41 and valve 38 opens pump 41 to drain 24. Contaminated water-acid solution is pumped out from washer tank 11. Valve 32 opens and pump 41 is shut off. Tank 11 fills to a predetermined level with rinse water. Pump 41 in then activated to empty the washer tnak 11, whereupon the valve 25 closes. This rinsing operation may be repeated several times, if so desired.

cYoLE Valve 32 is closed. Valve 42 opens the pump 22 to the pump 41. Valve 38 opens pump 41 to the venturi of the pump 22, creating vacuum in the pump 22. Valve 34 opens venturi of pump 22 to valve 29, opening valve 34 to valve 31. Valve 31 opens valve 29 to the tank 11. Valve 45 opens tank 11 to valve 44 which opens distilled water tank 21 to valve 45. Vent 33 is open and distilled water is drawn from tank 21 into tank 11 until the latter is filled. Valve 44 closes tank 21 from tank 11. Pump 41 is shut off and the system operates in this condition for a required period of time.

CYCLE 6 Valve 32 is open to atmosphere Valve 45 opens tank 11 to valve 44, which opens valve 45 to valve 42. Valve 42 opens valve 44 to pump 41 and valve 38 opens the pump 41 to the drain 24. The pump 41 is turned on until the distilled water is pumped out from the washer tank 11, after which the pump 41 is turned off.

QYCLE 7 The generator 15 is actuated to blow hot air into the washer tank 1 1, thus drying the work pieces therein for a predetermined period of time. With this accomplished, all equipment is turned off and the apparatus is ready for future operation.

While in the foregoing there has been described and shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In an acid bath washer apparatus, the combination of a washer tank, an acid storage tank, means for delivering acid from said storage tank to said washer tank for treating work pieces in the latter and for returning the acid to the storage tank when the treatment is completed, and outside water'supply means for rinsing said washer tank and the acid-treated work pieces therein, said water supply means being dischargeable to a drain after rinsing, and said means for delivering and returning acid including a venturi-type suction pump communicable with said washer tank and said acid storage tank.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with a distilled water supply tank, and means for delivering distilled water from said supply tank to said washer tank after rinsing of the work pieces.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 together with a hot air generator connected to said washer tank for drying the work pieces after washing.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with a hot air generator connected to said washer tank for drying the work pieces after washing.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with a rotary work piece carrier provided in said washer tank, and means for rotating said carrier. 

1. In an acid bath washer apparatus, the combination of a washer tank, an acid storage tank, means for delivering acid from said storage tank to said washer tank for treating work pieces in the latter and for returning the acid to the storage tank when the treatment is completed, and outside water supply means for rinsing said washer tank and the acid-treated work pieces therein, said water supply means being dischargeable to a drain after rinsing, and said means for delivering and returning acid including a venturi-type suction pump communicable with said washer tank and said acid storage tank.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with a distilled water supply tank, and means for delivering distilled water from said supply tank to said washer tank after rinsing of the work pieces.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 together with a hot air generator connected to said washer tank for drying the work pieces after washing.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with a hot air generator connected to said washer tank for drying the work pieces after washing.
 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with a rotary work piece carrier provided in said washer tank, and means for rotating said carrier. 